2011 Award Winning Books for Children
Every year, the American Library Association (ALA) selects the best in children’s literature from among the previous year’s thousands of published books. The best known are the Caldecott and the Newbery Awards, but there are several other awards worth knowing.*
The (Pura) Belpré Award honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. The 2011 award winners are:
- The Dreamer written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sís (author award)
- Grandma's Gift illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez (illustrator award)
- Find a summary of the award winning books, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/index.cfm
The (Randolph) Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2011 award winner is:
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead
- Find a summary of the award winning book, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm
The Coretta Scott King Awards are given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society. The 2011 award winners are:
- One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia (author award)
- Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill (illustrator award)
- Find a summary of the award winning books, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskbookawards/recipients.cfm
The (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year. The 2011 award winner is:
- Bink and Gollie written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee, illustrated by Tony Fucile
- Find a summary of the award winning book, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward/index.cfm
The (John) Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The 2011 award winner is:
- Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
- Find a summary of the award winning book, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
The (Robert F.) Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year. The 2011 award winner is:
- Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot written by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop
- Find a summary of the award winning book, as well as a list of honor books at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/index.cfm
* Please note that the award descriptions above were taken directly from the ALA website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/index.cfm